Northwestern RB Venric Mark out for season, may redshirt

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald announced on Monday what most people around his program already knew: Running back Venric Mark will miss the rest of the season because of a fractured ankle.

“We’re disappointed for him, first and foremost,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s not that the injury has gotten worse. It just hasn’t gotten any better.”

The former All-American broke the ankle on Oct. 12 against Wisconsin. He played his only full game of the year the week before against Ohio State, but missed several earlier games with a leg injury.

He finished with just 97 rushing yards after gaining 1,366 last season. Northwestern hasn’t been the same without the explosive all-purpose back, who was second nationally in punt returns in 2012. Junior Treyvon Green has been solid filling in for Mark, rushing for 612 yards and eight touchdowns, but he’s not the breakaway threat that Mark was.

Fitzgerald said that Mark, a fourth-year senior, would try to come back next year via a medical redshirt.